Vertiport infrastructure developer Skyports is looking at using existing parking lots in Japan to develop future take-off and landing pads for eVTOL aircraft operations.
The U.K. startup has announced it is working with Japan’s Park25, Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance and Kanematsu Corporation to develop vertiport infrastructure in the country.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) will see Skyports and Park25 explore how vertiports can be developed and integrated into Park24’s parking and car sharing network.
Meanwhile, Aioi Nissay Dowa will provide insurance for ground infrastructure and air mobility services and look at developing a Mobility as a Service (MaaS) that can integrate land transportation with air travel.
Under the MOU, Skyports and Kanematsu will conduct feasibility assessments in Kansai Region — particularly in Osaka — as well as other locations on Japan, to determine which of Park24’s parking lots are suitable for vertiport development.
The two companies have been working together since April 2020 to explore vertiport infrastructure, later extending their agreement to include the drone delivery market. The Japanese conglomerate is also an investor in Skyports.
“Skyports is proud to partner with Park24, Kanematsu Group and Aioi Nissay Dowa to contribute our expertise in vertiport design, development and operations,” said Yun-Yuan Tay, head of APAC (Asia-Pacific) at Skyports, in a press release. “The partnership will enable us to leverage Park24’s extensive portfolio of facilities for vertiport development.”
